Faye couldn't think of more interesting things than what the villagers did in celebration of what they call the "appeasement of the spirits." Whatever they called it, to her, it was the best send-off party she had ever been in.

There was the ceremony of the men catching a hog while they were blindfolded. Then, there was the tasting of different...things for the women. Chinook told her that both signified man's ignorance and how they stumble and finally achieve peace and happiness once they understand what the spirits were trying to tell them.

The rest of the day was devoted to giving them parting gifts. By far, the strangest thing she received was a necklace made out of the fangs of a fish. She didn't know what kind of fish had teeth that large, but all she knew was that she didn't want to swim in waters infested by them.

The festive mood didn't end with the giving of their gifts. It didn't matter that the sun had set quite some time ago. When usually, the darkness prompted the villagers to return to their huts, this night, they were even more lively than they were when the sun was up. People didn't stop singing and dancing around the fire, and though Faye didn't understand a word, she enjoyed the energy and the abandon by which they did everything. Even the chief and his wife, as old as they were, rarely sat down beside her and Nathan. The only likely explanation was that whatever they were drinking was a mix of something that can make them abandon their inhibitions and supply them vast amounts of energy. And she was sure it was not a mixture of alcohol and Red Bull, but it was something akin to that.

Beside her, Nathan just watched on sometimes laughing and singing in the wrong lyrics without a care that they hardly resembled what the natives were saying. But for the past half hour – or at least, it felt like half an hour – he was having a faraway look in his eyes as the light of the fires flickered across his face. The play of shadows and light accentuated some hard planes in his face that highlighted his masculinity. It was something Faye had never seen before and did not expect to see from him. In her mind, he was still the chubby bully who wanted to take all the glory for himself. The more she looked at him, though, the more it sank to her that he was a changed person. He was no longer a boy, but a man – a man with a well-defined body and would have no problems being cast in Baywatch. Even his hair no longer looked like the one Moe sported from the Three Stooges. Sure it was messy from lack of combing, but somehow, it suited him. She wondered how they would feel like between her fingers...

She suddenly shook her head and felt her face burn. What was she thinking? She had to remember who he was! Nathan bloody Prescott. The person who—

"Faye?"

She jumped suddenly found herself staring into his eyes. "Huh? What? Sorry?"

"I haven't said anything yet," he said in an amused tone. "Got something on your mind?"

"No!"

"You're red." He touched her cheek lightly.

"It's cold." She wasn't lying. It was cold. But she knew in her heart her flushed cheeks and the cold air weren't related at all. And she was sure that her suddenly erratic heartbeat had everything to do with her flushing and the tingling sensation on her cheek where their skin met.

Nathan smiled. "I know how to get warm."

Faye stared at him, her mind blank. She could see him inching closer and her mind screamed for her to move. The only problem was, her body wasn't responding. Even when he was so close that every warm breath he took touched her skin, she didn't move. More so because now, half of her brain was telling her to move toward him.

She couldn't really say that she was shocked when his lips touched hers. It wasn't that she expected it either. It somehow felt natural. As if his lips that felt so warm and moist against hers grazing her bottom lip was the only thing that would soothe a deep need that she never knew existed until then. His hand continued to leave traces on her cheek, and wherever he touched, her nerves tingled constantly reminding her how his skin felt against hers. Her mouth slacked at the new sensations she was receiving from him. And the moment she felt his thumb tracing circles on her hip, her mind blanked.

At that moment nothing else existed to her but him. His scent filled her lungs and she could feel her heart flutter at each movement he made. When his mouth moved a little to the side, she instinctively followed. His gentle kissing and nibbling suddenly became an addiction she couldn't deny.

And as if upon a telepathic link, they broke off at the same time to catch their breath.

"I'm honored to be your first kiss," Nathan whispered in her ear.

Faye's eyes fluttered open, surprised that she had them closed the whole time. She looked into Nathan's eyes mere inches from her own and saw something she had never seen before: desire. Raw and restrained desire. For the moment, she reveled in the feelings he gave her. It was all so alien and yet, so welcoming. It felt right, but something in her head was screeching off in the distance. As if it was warning her of something.

"Nathan..." she said, surprised at her own breathlessness and the realization that she was breathing hard. "What...?"

"Shh..." Nathan put his thumb on her mouth. "Don't think, Faye. For once in your life...just don't..."

Faye felt him close the gap once again, more than she saw it. And then something in her mind clicked and she pushed him at arm's length.

"Wha—?" Nathan looked at her bewildered.

Faye closed her eyes and inhaled. "Stop this."

"What's wrong?"

"You!" She opened her eyes looking straight at him.

Nathan blinked. "Me? Look, if you'd like for me to change anything, just tell me."

"It's...it's not that." Faye let go of him. "You have a girlfriend."

"Then I'll break up with her."

Faye sighed. "That's what I was afraid of. Nathan, how am I supposed to know if you're not just going to dump me like you do your other girls? How am I supposed to believe that I'm just another notch on your bedpost? I can't do this. I can't do this to your girl and I can't do this to myself." She shook her head. "I shouldn't have..."

"Faye, listen to me." He held both her hands in his. "This is different. It really is. Believe me. It feels different. This doesn't feel empty at all! I—"

"Nathan, think. Please think about everything first. You're rushing into things. I mean, I don't even know how I feel!"

"After that and you don't know how you feel?"

"I know! I know I should not have kissed you. That was...that was stupid of me. I didn't think! We just shouldn't do this. At least, not now. I need time. I need room. You need to think." Faye didn't know what she was saying anymore, but she didn't stop. Only her talking was stopping her from breaking down in her confusion. She had never been confused before and confusion was not a welcome feeling. "Let's just give it time."

Nathan sighed and let go of her hands. "Alright. I'll give you time. I'll give you room. But Faye, I don't need to think. I know what I want and what I need. And that's you."

Faye looked away back to the dancing and the singing of the natives. She didn't know what to say to that. What could she say? The last couple of weeks had been such a whirlwind she didn't know if she was her old self still. Maybe all she needed was to step back into civilization and she would finally regain her senses.

Even without seeing, she could feel Nathan's eyes on her and it was making her hair stand on end. It was making her feel uncomfortable, but somehow, the attention wasn't entirely unwelcome.

What on earth was wrong with her?

Soooo the kiss finally happened! Yay! Faye and Nathan are slowly coming closer day by day. What are your thoughts on this chapter? Do share your views if you liked the chapter and don't forget to vote.

Also, if you've read my other book 'Wicked Love' and liked it, please nominate my book in the Fiction Awards 2018 in the following categories:

Best story plot

Best Fantasy story

Best overall story

Best of the undiscovered

Best mature (18+)

It would mean a lot if you nominated. I know I won't win but I would be really very happy if Wicked Love atleast gets chosen as a nominee. ❤